Hi,
mosfet said:
How can an intelligent and rational individual (that I assume you are T) conclude crystals, felt dots and chess pieces have real-world mechanisms sufficient to manifest effect?
Empirical observation. The Felt dots BTW had a certain measurable effect on RT60, not large but repeatable.
Crystals do have interesting properties. I use them according to principles of Feng Shui where they are said to counter "negative energies" emanating from technical devices, in western lingo we would call it "Electro Smog". I remain baffled by them but found them subjectively and both at work and home to seem an effect. Fry me, I really do not understand, but it appears to be working.
BTW, Crystals as such do not change the sound.
The chinese chess pieces are largely an affection, I include them allways as "closed minded foolsbait".
As for harmonica plates, I'd prefer to hange a violin, a viola da gamba and maybe an acoustical guitar across my front wall, but I'd have to endlessly tune them and I lack the space. Harmonic plates work easier and they do so by symathetic and harmonic resonce (obviously).
For Belts devices I am again extremely stumped and sceptical, that is one of the reasons why I declined to write about them (which seems to have rescued me unwittingly from being "Randi Challenged", well at least not by anyone by my wife).
Trust me, I am rather sceptical of things, though more in Humean/Kantean line than that of Randi, CISCOP, Self and other selfappointed guardians of orthodoxy.
mosfet said:
Isn't the most coherent theory for the efficacy of crystals, felt dots and chess pieces the human psyche?
It is by far the easiest "cop out" theory, so you do not have to face up to the actual hguge gaps of uncertainties, assumptions and occams razor violating suppositions we currently call science. It is comforting to think we have it all figured out, or if not all, then at least all that matters. This tendency to internalise the issues (it is all delusion) is an expression of that. It does not make that theory coherent though. It merely makes it acceptable to most people. That usually tends to mean it is actually wrong.
As observed, the felt dots have a very small but definit real effect and one that happens in specific frequency regions that determine spatial hearing (see Blauerts works on these frequency regions - aka the Blauert Bands).
The chinese chess pieces appear to be extremely effective at what they are supposed to do, namely to challenge peoples prejudices.
Crystals have no effect on what is heard, but in the presence of a lot of electronic gear they appear to aid general well being (which aids in turn being relaxed when listening) and (blind) removal of them appears to impact on that wellbeing factor. I am still investigating.
I suspect this would probably fall within Randi's paranormal challenge, not sure what protocol would apply. All I know I end up putting them back when the sceptical side of my psyche makes me remove them.
I repeat, Crystals do not change the sound of equipment in my experience. The appear to make me and others feel more relaxed and they are pretty.
Ciao T